Life
?-1778; prompter and later theatre manager; Norwich tradesman, 1722; London
linendraper; deputy manager of Dublin theatre, 1746-59; Drury Lane treasurer,
1760-78; poet-laureate of Ireland, 1755; pamphlets and wretched verse,
1722-76; memoirs of Barton Booth, actor, 1733; history of the state in
London and Dublin, 1710-1771 (1761-71); History of the Stage in London
and Dublin (1761). DNB
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Criticism
Esther K. Sheldon, Thomas Sheridan (Princepton 1967) bibl., (p.490),
The History of the Theatres of London and Dublin from the Year 1730
to the present Time. To Which is Added, an Annual Register of All
the Plays, &c. Performed at the Theatres-Royal in London from the
Year 1712. With Occasional Notes and Anecdotes, 2 vols. (London 1761;
reprinted in 1 Vol. by Blom, NY 1969).
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Commentary
Sir John Gilbert, History of the City of Dublin, 3 vols. (Dublin:
McGlashan & Gill 1854-59; facs. rep. IUP 1972), remarks: ‘in
his reformation of the Theatre, Sheridan was ably seconded by Benjamin
Victor, who has lef the following account of a riot at Smock Alley [i.e.,
the Kelly Riot of 1747]: “I have often exclaimed loudly and publicly
against the indecency of the scenes, by the admission of every idler that
had a laced coat, the youths of the College were in the custom of crowding
to every morning rehearsal. I have seen actors and actresses rehearsing
within a circle of forty or fifty of those young gentlemen. I proposed
several methods for the redressing of these grievances; which were all
objected to by the Manager, as too dangerous to be executed in Dublin,
his common reply was, ‘you forget yourself, you think you are on
English ground.’” (Gilbert, II. 81ff.) Thus it remained till
[the ensuing outrage involves Mrs. Bellamy [see supra]. Sheridan’s
part in theatre reform was, according to Victor, the ‘defence of
decency and decorum on the stage.’
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)